Improvement in sheet-metal boxes



2 sheets-sheet 1.

D. M. SOMERS. Sheet-Metal Box.

N 218,076: .-E.a te n! u| 29, I879.

.Zkarvu:- l 507700715,

NJETERS. FHOT0-UTHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON, u c,

2 Sheets-Sheet 2, D. M. SOMERS. Sheet-Metal Box.

No. 218,076. Patented July 29, 18 79.

IrwervZor;

Dwnzlel/ 5077116719" NJETERS, PHOTOJJTNOGRAPNER. WASHINGTON. D Cv UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL M. SOMERS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHEET-METAL BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 218,076, dated July 29,1879; application filed February 5, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL M. SoMERs, of the city of Brooklyn, county ofKings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Sheet-Metal Boxes, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, reference being had to the drawings whichaccompany this specification.

The object of my invention is the production of a box adapted for thetransportation of small quantities of merchandise, which may be readilyopened to enable one to inspect or remove the contents thereof, whichsaid box shall be capable of being fastened in its closed condition, soas to properly protect said contents during transportation.

The invention consists in a sheet-metal box the parts whereof are soconstructed as to provide a sliding cover having a means for locking itin a closed position, all of which is too particularly hereinafterdescribed to need further preliminary explanation.

In order to a perfect understanding of said invention, the preciseembodiment of it illustrated by the accompanying drawings will first beexplained, and then its mode of use and many advantages will be setforth.

In said drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan view of the blank fromwhich the body is fashioned. Fig. 2 represents the dies for and the modeof turning up the box-sides. Fig. 3 illustrates the dies for and themode of forming the bottom-edge flange. Fig. 4 is a plan view of one endof the completed box-body. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of such body onthe lines m w of Fig. 4, looking toward one end of i the said body. Fig.6 represents a plan view of the blank from which the cover is fashioned.Fig. 7 represents a side elevation of said cover after its side and endflanges have been properly formed. Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation ofsaid cover, taken on the .line 3 y of Fig. 7, and looking toward therear end. Fig. 9 represents the body and cover adjusted together, thecover being slightly open to better illustrate the mode of placing it inposition. Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation on the line 2 z of Fig. 9,looking rearward, and Fig. 11 is a front-end elevation of the box withits cover fully adjusted in place and its fasteninglips bent intoposition to lock the same securely upon said body.

In forming the body of the box a blank of the form shown in Fig. 1 iscut by any suitable means, as stamping from a sheet of metal or similarmaterial. This blank, after having the edges of its sides 10 11 turnedoutwardly to provide them with flanges 6 5, is then placed in suitabledies, such, for instance, as the female die A, provided with aspring-seated t'ollower, B, and a male die, 0, whereby its sides 10 11and the edges 1 3 and 2 4 of its ends 12 13 are turned at right anglesto the body on the lines a. a, as in Fig. 2. This body is then invertedover a former, D, which loosely fits within it, and the two are insertedin a female die, E, which is provided with channels to receive theflanges 5 6, as is seen in Fig. 3.

The former D is ofless height than the depth of the body of the box, andthe female die is of corresponding height, which construction causes thecorners of the box-body to spread outward, when the male die F forciblydescends upon the bottom of the said body and forms the flanges 7 7, 88, and 9 9 by turning the blank on the lines 6 t. (See Figs. 1, 3, 9,and 10.) The ends 12 13 are then turned up at right angles on the linesa v by a common bending or swaging process, forming a hollow rectangularbox-body, in which operation the edges 1 3 and 2 4, that now formtongues projecting from the flanges 9 9 and 8 8 of the ends 12 and 13 ofthe box-body, are passed within the sides 10 11 of the box-body, Figs.9, 10, which operation completes the said boxbody.

The cover is fashioned from a blank of suitable sheet metal or similarmaterial, formed by suitable means in the shape shown in Fig. 6, itsrear end being provided with a projection, 14, and its front end withone or more projecting lips, 15 16.

Its sidesare then turned inwardly by any common means, as rolling, toform the flanges I7 19, and its lip 14 is turned downwardly at rightangles to the body to form the stop 14, as in Fig. 9, which operationcompletes said cover unless the same is designed to have a countersunkdepression, 21, as is shown in Figs. 8 and 10, which form may be givenit by suitable dies.

If the cover is so countersunk it will be necessary to make the rearend, 13, of the boxbody slightly lower than the end 12. as will bereadily understood.

The countersunk depression 21, though not .essential in allconstructions of boxes embodying my invention, is an important featurewhere the material used is of mode atestrength, since the angles formedby the depression bear against the tongues l 3 and 2 4 at their upperends. and extend near the sides 10 11, so as to prevent said sides frombeing pressed or bulged inward, which movement of these might disengagethe flanges 5 6 and 17 19 and free the cover. To adjust the cover uponthe box its curved flanges 1T 19 are entered upon the similar flanges 65 of the sides 11 10 of the box-body, whereupon it may be freely slidover said body until its stop 14 abuts against the rearend, l3, ofthebody and the lip or lips 15 16 project beyond the front end, 12,thereof. These last-named lips may then be turned down by hand over saidfront end, 12, therebylocking the cover in place, as in Fig. 11.

It will be observed that the flanges 5 ti and 17 19 securely hold thecover to the sides of thebox-body; thatthestop14,pressingagainst therear end, 13, ofthe body, holds it so that its flanges S 8 tightly pressagainst the rear ends of the sides 10 11, while its tongues 13 4 liesnugly against the inner faces of the ends of said sides 10 11; also,that when the lip or lips 15 16 are pressed downwardly they in likemanner press the flanges 9 9 and tongues 1 3 of the front end, 12, ofthe body against the front end and inner faces of the sides 10 11 of thebox-body. In this manner all the .parts of the box are securely lockedtogether,

so that no ordinary handling can displace them.

By providing the box'body with the flanges 7 7, 8 8, and 9 9, thebox-sides are carried toward the center far enough to compensate for theprojection of the side flanges of the cover, thus enabling the box to bemade square for packing purposes. This construction, besides impartinggreat strength to the body, affords paneled sides, whereby labels may beprotected.

To open the box, the. lip or lips 15 16 may be turned up by hand, as inFig. 9, whereupon the cover is again free to be slid over the top of thebox to expose its contents.

A box thus constructed requires no soldering to secure its parts inplace or in position. Its structure is such that great strength isimparted to it, and its construction, while providing for convenientlyopening it to obtain access to its contents, afl'ords a means forclosing and locking it so securely that the box may be handled ortransported without danger of disarranging its parts or exposing itscontents, thus avoiding the hitherto necessary wrapping, packing, orother means for protecting it.

\Vhat is claimed 1s 1. A rectangular box the ends of whose body haveunflanged upper edges, said box being provided with a sliding coverhaving a stop at one end adapted to abut against one end of thebox-body, and a lip or lips proiecting from the other end, which areadapted to be bent down upon and lie flat against the other end of saidbox-body to lock the cover in place, substantially as described.

2. A box having ends 12 13 ot'its body provided with inwardly-projectingtongues, as l 3 and 2 4, bearing against the inner faces of the sides 1011, which said sides have flanges, as 5 6, and having a cover withflanged sides, as 17 19, a stop, as 14, at its rear end, and a lip orlips, as 15 16, at its front end, all substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a box-body, the sides of which have flanges 56, 0f aeover having flanges 17 1t) and countersunk central depressionextending nearits sides 10 11, whereby the central upper portions of thebox-sides are prevented from being forced inwardly, substantially as andfor the purposes specitied.

4. A box the ends 12 13 of whose body are provided withinwardly-projecting tongues 1 3 and 2 4 bearing to support the innerfaces ofthe sides 10 11, which said sides have flanges 7 T and 5 6, andthe cover whereof has flanged sides 17 19. substantially as described.

5. A box the ends 12 13 of the body whereof are provided with flanges Sb and 1) l), and with inwardly-prtflecting tongues, as l 3 and 2 4,adapted to bear against the inner faces of the sides 10 11, which saidsides have flanges, as 5 (3, and the cover whereot'has flanged sides, as17 It), a stop, as 14, at its rear end, and a lip or lips, as 15 16, atits front end, all substantially as described.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

DANIEL M. SOMERS.

Witnesses:

JOHN E. StoKELs, (1150. H. GRAHAM.

